Wednesday

4 September 2013

“While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.” (v. 17)

Background

The crossing of the Jordan is presented in this and the next
chapter as an elaborate ritual to ensure its significance was
appreciated. Just as the crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground (Exodus
14:21-31) marked the change of status for Israel from slavery
to free people, so the crossing of the Jordan on dry ground marks
their transition from nomadic life to nationhood. The event became
both for Jews and Christians deeply symbolic of entering a new era;
consider the hymn Guide me, O thou great Jehovah with the lines,
"When I tread the verge of Jordan … land me safe on Canaan's
side".

Chapters 3 and 4 contain 21 uses of the Hebrew word that means
'cross over' making clear that this transition is indeed the main
theme. Much of chapter 3 contains preparatory speeches by the
leading officers, by Joshua, and by the Lord, whilst much of
chapter 4 concerns steps taken to ensure the future remembrance of
the occasion.

The "ark of the covenant", from the time of its construction in
the desert, right through to the later Israelite monarchy, is a
visible representation of the throne of the invisible God and
therefore of God's power. Apart from the priests who have been set
aside to manage this holy object the rest of the people are to mark
their respect for God by keeping a distance of about a kilometre
from it (verse 4). The story understands the presence of the ark as
responsible for the temporary interruption in the river's flow; it
is unimportant to propose any particular natural explanation.

"Canaanites" is often used as an inclusive term for all seven
tribal peoples that are named in verse 10 as the existing
inhabitants of the land; many of them are named as branches of
Canaan's family in Genesis 10:15-18.

"Lord of all the earth" (vv. 11, 13) may only refer to the
promised land in that 'earth' and 'land' are not different words in
Hebrew. Nevertheless, later readers, for example in the time of the
Exile when the final editing of the book of Joshua took place,
would want to adopt the bigger meaning.

To Ponder

What do you find helpful or otherwise about the image of
crossing the Jordan as a metaphor for dying and what follows?

A secondary theme in the passage (verse 7 and Joshua
4:14) is the elevation of Joshua's status as leader. How
prominent do you think named leaders need to be in the church
today? In what senses (if any) should they be "exalted"?

What visible signs of God's presence and power might be
identified in today's world?

Bible notes author

The Revd Dr Stephen Mosedale

Stephen Mosedale is a recently retired Methodist minister now living in Devon. He is enjoying the freedom that gives, whenever mood and weather dictsate, to walk on Dartmoor, photograph varied and ever-changing seascapes, or grow vegetables in the garden.